Drive-chain



E. L. HOWE. Drive Chain.

No. 231,580. Patented Aug. 24,1880.

INVENTOB:

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE L. HOWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 231,580, dated August24, 1880.

' Application filed December 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. HOWE, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Drive-Chains, of which the following, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan or face view of a portion of adrive-chain embodying my invention; Fig. 2, an edge view thereof. Figs.3 and 4 are representations, respectively, like Figs. 1 and 2,butindicating the essential features of myinvention in modified form;and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, representing a modification of form.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention relates to that class of drivechains having links adaptedto be detached from each other with facility; and my object is toimprove the means employed for admitting of the easy uncoupling andcoupling of the links when the chain is not at work. To this end myinvention consists in the several features of construction hereinafterset forth as novel.

In the drawings, A A are links in a drivechain embodying my invention.On each end of these links is an end bar, B, connected centrally to thebody or intermediate part by means of a Ifebk, 0, thus forming aT-shaped end or two laterally extending cylindrical studs, a a.

I am aware that open links having T-shaped coupling ends are old; but inconnection with coupling ends so formed, and as a novel feature ofconstruction embodying one of the elements of my invention, Iemployhorns or keep ers D D, for the purpose hereinafter set forth, thusforming behind the studs a a a deep semicircular notch or recess, to,opening laterally at the comparatively narrow throat a.

E E, as shown in the first four figures of the drawings, are separate,independent, and laterally-removable side bars or checks, arrangedoppositely in pairs and articulatingly connected to the studs a a in themanner hereinafter described, and these bars or checks may be madeeither sufficiently long, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to be usedalternately with links A A, having closed centers, thus admitting thesprockets between the said bars and the ends of the said links, orsufficiently short, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to serve as mere couplersfor links having open centers, the difference in construction, so far asrelates to the side bars or cheeks shown in the first two and next twofigures of the drawings, being merely in length, and the difi'erence inthe links AA, as shown in the same figures, relating only to the centersof those links, my object being, in showing these modifications, toindicate in what ways the means I employ for coupling the links may beused in connection with links having either closed or open centers. Eachbar E is open to receive the studs (0 a, and has its ends formed toarticulate thereon and to fill or nearly fill the openings a a, beingthus lapped by the horns or keepers D D, which lock the bars to thelinks without preventing articulation. To admit of the bars E E beingplaced on the studs a a, I make in the former the depressions orrecesses b b, to receive the said keepers, the said bars being thussufficiently contracted to allow them to enter the throat a. If the saiddepressions or recesses be then turned away from the keepers, the barscannot be detached, and to prevent accidental detachment during use Iarrange the said dcpressions or recesses to lie away from the keeperswhen the links assume their working position, as shown. In order toremove the bars it is only necessary to slacken the chain and to returnthe said depressions or recesses to the keepers.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of construction which issubstantially the same as rigidly uniting to one halfof the link A(shown in Figs. 3 and 4) one half ofeach bar E, (shown in Figs. 1 and2,) supposing these parts to be cut transversely about midway betweentheir ends; and when this modification is employed the free ends of theside bars are to be sprung or pinched upon the studs a a of like-formedlinks, the depressions or recesses b 11 being first arranged, as alreadydescribed with relation to the keepers O O, to admit of such connection,and the links being afterward arranged in position for work.

I am aware that drive-chain links have heretofore containedlaterally-removable side bars or couplers, and I do not therefore hereintend to claim such, broadly; but,

2. A drivechain wherein are combined the links A A, having thereon thelaterally-extending studs (1 a and the longitudinally-projecting keepersI) l), and also the neck 0, all

arranged substantially as described with relation to each other and thebody of the link, and the side bars, E E, adapted to receive the studs(1 u articulately, and having therein the depressions or recesses I) b,substantially as and for the purposes specified.

EUGENE L. HOWE. Witnesses:

F. F. WARNER, W. L. BAKER.

